Welcome to the first weekly email from your Students’ Union for the new academic year.

What is the Students’ Union?

“The mission of the Union shall be to represent its members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society.” – Constitution of the Students’ Union

The SU is a representative organisation that is independent from the University and consists of all registered students at NUI Galway. As the SU is an independent body, the SU officers do not have to answer to the University authorities – we only answer to you, our members who have elected us.

These are the officers here in the Students’ Union working for you this year to promote and defend your rights:

Our SU Outdoor Cinema is back (weather depending) at 8pm on Tuesday 5th of September outside the Engineering Building. There will be FREE popcorn for the first 100 people and you can vote on our Facebook page for the film you want us to show. Make sure you bring something to sit on and don’t bring any alcohol or you will be asked to leave.

Books – Buy & Sell

Remember we sell second-hand books to save you a bit of cash and we can also sell them on your behalf to make you some cash! Have a look at our second-hand bookshop for more information on buying or selling here.

The NUI Galway Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair is back with ALL THE FREEBIES! Call down to Áras na Mac Léinn 11am-4pm Wednesday 13th of September for giant inflatable games, food, freebies, tunes and competitions.

NUIG Free STI Clinic

The free STI Clinic will reopen in the Student Health Unit in Áras na Mac Léinn every Tuesday & Wednesday evening 5pm-7pm from Tuesday 12th of September. The clinic is by appointment only on a first come, first served basis. Remember you can pick up FREE condoms from the SU Office or the SU Engineering Desk all year long.

Connacht Rugby Cheap Match Tickets on Sale Now

We are selling reduced rate NUI Galway student tickets for all the Connacht Rugby home matches again this season. First up is Connacht vs Glasgow Warriors Sat 2nd September NUIG Student Tickets €20 (Bohermore Terrace) on sale now from the SU Office. Kick-off is 19:35 Saturday 3rd September. NUI Galway student ID Required.

NUI Galway Students’ Union presents SeX Rated Comedy Hypnotist Michael McCoy at 8pm on Monday 18th September in the O’Flaherty Theatre. Tickets are €5 and are on sale now from the SU Office (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm) and the SU Engineering Desk (Mon-Fri 11am-3pm).Warning: This show is not for the easily offended – get your tickets quick as this is always a sell-out event!

Student Leap Cards now just €10

The shiny new Student Leap Cards are available now from the Students’ Union office upstairs in Áras na Mac Léinn between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday. All you need to do is bring yourself, your new college ID, €10 and a smile for the photo we will take of you. These are valid until the 31st of December 2018.

Get registered to vote so you can vote in local and national elections!

We’re making it easy for you; all you have to do is collect the form in the SU Office, fill it out and we’ll post it off for you. That’s it, you’re registered!

Class Representatives

Every class is entitled to a Class Representative to represent their class. If your class does not have a Class Rep your voice will not be heard. If you have any questions on the roles and responsibilities of a Class Rep contact the SU Vice-President/Education Officer Andrew at su.education@nuigalway.ie. Further information regarding the role of Class Reps is also available in the SU Council section of our website here.

Financial Aid Fund opens 11th September

The Financial Aid Fund is intended to tackle disadvantage by providing financial support to students who require financial support to enable them to fully benefit from their third level studies.

Semester 1 Financial Aid Fund Online Applications open on Monday 11th of September and close at 12 noon on Monday 2nd October. More information.

Lockers On Sale Now

You need to register online first at www.su.nuigalway.ie and you can either pay online and collect your key at your leisure OR you locker will be reserved for a 3 day period during which you can call up to the SU to collect your key and pay for same. PLEASE NOTE: after the 3 days your reservation expires if you don’t call in to pay.

Please note that keys for lockers in Áras Moyola and the Engineering Building can only be collected at the SU Engineering Desk in the Engineering Building foyer Monday – Friday 11am-3pm.

Get your free SU Card and earn points or free products every time you shop with us. Your SU Card can be used in any Students’ Unions outlet: Sult, Students’ Union Shop, Smokey’s Café, The Wall Café, Caifé na Gaeilge. Students’ Union outlets are open longer than other outlets, have the best prices and sell a huge range of products, so you will quickly start to earn benefits.

Also, when you spend money in SU outlets, that money stays on campus supporting student jobs and students’ union services. No other campus operator can say that!

The Sin newspaper editor Sorcha is looking for volunteers to help out with the on campus newspaper and website during the year. If you are interested in helping drop her a line to editor@sin.ie

Drop in to Teach Solais this Saturday

Teach Solais is an LGBT+ drop in space in the Teach Solais resource centre just off Eyre Square from 2pm-4pm every Saturday. Anyone can pop in, have a cup of tea and a chat, play some games and find out what’s going on in the centre!

Bus Routes to Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare:

If you are from any of the four counties above, we’d love to hear from you about your use of bus services to travel home. This will help the University inform our bus partners of how they can better improve their service to you. The survey takes only 3 minutes to complete! https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/2e2cg5a379

Please help us try to solve your accommodation issues by taking 1 minute to fill out this survey

Be Aware: Student Houses Targeted by Burglars.

There has recently been a number of reported burglaries to students’ houses near NUI Galway. If you come home to find that your house has been robbed, do not enter the property. Call to a neighbour’s house and ring 999/112. Explain what has happened and wait for the Gardaí to arrive. We urge you to protect your property as much as possible.

When you are not at home:

Lock the front and back doors

Close all windows

Leave some lights on in the house, upstairs and downstairs

If possible, lock all bedroom doors

Do not leave cash in the property

Do not leave bikes unlocked outside the property

And very importantly, if you have a house alarm – USE IT.

Also, it is advised by the Gardaí to take note of all serial numbers on laptops and other valuable devices. Save your important files and college work on an additional device, and take photos of the valuable items you own (including bikes).Following the above will make your home less of a target.

Register and pay now in the SU Office or phone 091 524810 to pay by credit card (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm).

Class Representatives

Every class is entitled to a Class Representative to represent their class. If your class does not have a Class Rep your voice will not be heard. If you have any questions on the roles and responsibilities of a Class Rep contact the SU Vice-President/Education Officer Rebecca at su.education@nuigalway.ie. Further information regarding the role of Class Reps is also available in the SU Council section of our website here.

SU Card

Have you picked up your FREE SU Loyalty card yet? It magically transforms points into free teas/coffees, College Bar dinners and cash! You can pick one up from the SU Office Monday-Friday 10am-5pm or the SU Engineering Desk Monday-Friday 11am-3pm.

Lockers – Just 316 Left!

Please note that lockers are now available. You need to register online first at www.su.nuigalway.ie and your locker will be reserved for a 3 day period during which you can call up to the SU to collect your key and pay for same.

Please note that keys for lockers in Áras Moyola and the Engineering Building can only be collected at the SU Engineering Desk in the Engineering Building foyer Monday – Friday 11am-3pm.

The Sin newspaper editor Jessica is looking for volunteers to help out with the on campus newspaper and website during the year. If you are interested in helping drop her a line to editor@sin.ie or come to the weekly Sin meeting everyMonday 6pm-7pm in AC203.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes for international students EAP classes provide support with academic writing and referencing. The classes are free for full degree registered students and will start on Wed 23rd September 2015 for 8 weeks.

Classes will take place from 16:00 to 18:00 in AM107 and from 18:00 to 20:00 in AM110

All interested students need to fill out this link in order to register.

Please note that places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Talk on the BDS Campaign on Monday

On Monday 21 September in AC202 on the NUI Galway Concourse at 7pm, Riya Hassan of the Palestinian BDS National Committee will give a talk hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Society on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israeli occupation, colonialism and apartheid. More Information.

College Campus Radio FlirtFM turns 20 with a series of special events running 25th -26th September

On Friday 25th there’s a meet-up in NUI Galway College Bar at 19:00, and later a silent disco in the Roisín Dubh, with Flirt FM DJs.

On Saturday the 26th make a name badge in Áras na Mac Léinn from 12 midday, then enjoy a free lunch at 12:30. There will be a live radio show on Flirt FM 101.3 from 13:00 – 17:00 where current and ex volunteers and staff chat about their time at the station. At the same time, former Flirt FM presenters will be talking about what the station meant to them in their career paths upstairs in The View, then there’s a launch reception at 17:00 for a documentary on the history of the station. There’s also an Eventbrite ticketed dinner at The Salthill Hotel.

Flirt FM 101.3 is Galway City’s award winning Student, Community & Alternative Station, based in NUI Galway since September 1995. With two paid staff, the station is home to up to 150 volunteers annually and up to 800 studio guests each year.

Give Blood in September

Please Give Blood in The Clybaun Hotel, Knocknacarra Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th September 5pm-8.30pm and Sunday 27th September 12pm-3.30pm.

Galway Culture Night this Friday

There are loads of FREE events on this Friday 18th September for Galway Culture Night. Plan your free evening of entertainment here: http://galwayculturenight.com/

ComputerDISC: Opening Thursday September 24th 2015

ComputerDISC (Computer Programming Drop-In Support Centre) is a free resource for all NUIG students that are enrolled in computer programming or software development courses. The purpose of the centre is to provide support to students with their self-directed learning in computing topics at all years and levels. It is designed to complement the lectures, tutorials, labs and other supports that are available to students. ComputerDISC is located in room 205 on the first floor of the Information Technology building. Students can drop in at any time during the opening hours as no appointments are necessary. Further information can be found on www.computerdisc.it.nuigalway.ie

FREE Meet and Train Sessions for the NUIG 8k

Free meet and train sessions every Monday & Wednesday at 1pm & 6pm for those preparing for the NUIG 8k on 10th October. 2k or 4k options and all levels of fitness welcome. Both runners and walkers accommodated. Contact Kingfisher reception for details on 091 540300. The NUI Galway Kingfisher 8k walk/run/crawl in aid of Jigsaw will take place on Saturday 10th October at 10am. Early bird entry fee is just €20 and all funds raised will support mental health services for young people in Galway.

NUI Galway won the Intervarsity Bioblitz last year & now it is time to defend our title! Running over 24 hours from 5pm on the 24th to 5pm on the 25th Sept, we are looking for people to help survey and identify as many species as possible on campus. We also need help with organisation, so all assistance is welcome! If you would like to participate in this unique event please email greencampus@nuigalway.ie

Synapse Wednesday 23rd September

Synapse //a Tech Carnival, is a student organised, free one day interactive technology showcase by top companies in the Bailey Allen hall on Wednesday the 23rd of September. We have talks, discussion panels, give-a-ways, prizes and stalls from Microsoft, Google, Ericsson and many more, for full line up and free tickets go to synapsegalway.com and tweet #synapse15.

Books – Buy & Sell

Remember we sell secondhand books to save you a bit of cash and we can also sell them on your behalf to make you some cash! Have a look at our secondhand bookshop for more information on buying or selling http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/bookstore/

Life Skills 2015 – now enrolling

Courses on offer to students during the 2015/16 academic term include:

The Suas Global Issues course is a seven week evening course designed to give students an opportunity to develop a knowledge of specific development issues. It goes on for two hours, once per week, looking at one issue per lecture and costs €25. However, is not so much of a lecture – it’s more so an interactive session of engaging discussion with students of various disciplines. No prior knowledge is needed at all, so it would suit any student that has even the slightest interest in global issues.

The shiny new Student Leap Cards and ISIC Cards are available now from the Students’ Union office upstairs in Áras na Mac Léinn between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday. All you need to do is bring yourself, your new college ID, €15 and a smile for the photo we will take of you. These are valid until the 31st of December 2016.

Interested in making a difference? Want to get involved in something fun? Want to be part of something bigger?

Volunteer with your students Union to get involved in lots of fun activities this year including our charity fundraisers. E-mail your Welfare Officer Jimmy: su.welfare@nuigalway.ie

SU Free Cloakroom

The SU Cloakroom is situated beside the SU Shop near the Bialann. The Cloakroom is FREE and is open Monday to Friday 9am – 6.30pm. Please note that we cannot accept laptops and items must be removed at the end of each day.

Official results for Semester 1 and Semester 1 will be released between Tuesday, 9th and Wednesday, 17th June online. Where ‘Fail’, Absent’, ‘Incomplete’ or ‘Deferred’ appears as the Overall result on your transcript of results, you will be automatically registered to take any written modules for the Autumn repeat session of examinations. Repeat examinations are scheduled August 4th to 14th 2015.

SU Card Reminder– CASH IN YOUR POINTS NOW!

Remember to cash in any points on your SU Card and spend any balances before you leave for summer. You can access your SU Card account through the SU Website: http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/su-card

Although your card will still work in September, points cannot be carried forward to next year. If you have any queries, please contact us.

SU Second-hand Bookstore Clear-out

Just a quick reminder that you must collect any book belonging to you which are still in the SU Second-hand Bookstore before 5pm Friday May 16th 2015. We cannot keep the books for you over the summer and any books which have not been collected by this date will be given away for free. We will be accepting books again at the end of August.

We now have €10 NUIG student tickets on sale for the last Connacht home match of the season against the Ospreys at 3pm Saturday 16th May.

Please note all lockers must be cleared out by Friday 15th May 2015

Please remember to drop your locker keys back to the Students’ Union Office by 5pm on Friday the 15th May 2015. Any items left in your locker after the 15th May 2015 will be disposed of.

Lockers for 2015/16 will go on sale on the SU Website at 10am on Monday 31st of August. You can book and pay online via www.su.nuigalway.ie

Celebrate Explore 12pm-1.45pm Wednesday 13th May in the Aula Maxima

Join us to experience this year’s diverse and exciting EXPLORE projects, to be inspired and to network. Email amber.walsholesen@nuigalway.ie to register. EXPORE was launched as a joint initiative of NUI Galway and NUI Galway Students’ Union. Since then, over 500 students and staff have partnered up to deliver more than 80 innovative projects. www.su.nuigalway.ie/explore

Kickstart Your Job Search

For all final years, postgrads, and graduates 9.30am-4pm on Thursday 14th May 2015 in IT250. Lunch provided! Advice on CV’s & Interviews, Industry Panel Experts, Careers Clinic, Guidance, Workshops etc. Find out more www.nuigalway.ie/careers

Staying in Galway for the Summer?

You will be flat out! Here’s our guide to everything going on in Galway this summer. Yay Summer!

Graduations 2015

Conferrings will take place Monday 19th – Friday 24th October (Undergrads) and Tuesday 24th-Thursday 26th November (PhDs/Postgrads)

Alive Certificates Collection

You can now collect your Alive Volunteering Certificate from the SU Office Monday-Friday 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm.

The walk starts at Leisureland at 4.15am on Saturday. That’s late, late Friday night! The route takes in the prom and South Park, returning to Leisureland. Please get there early, as parking will be limited and some roads will be closed off. YOU CAN STILL REGISTER AND COLLECT T-SHIRTS AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES:

Free Films at 4th REEL LIVES FILM FESTIVAL: Celebrating Ageing Across the LifecourseIn the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology Monday 18 – Friday 22 May at 1pm each day. One Irish short + one main feature each day. Free refreshments and spot prizes Thurs 1pm: NUI Galway Staff Choir. Fri 4pm: Guided walking tour of Dangan with Brendan Hynes

NUIG Colour Dash

11am Sunday 21st of June in aid of Irish Cancer Society. Register Now.

Galway African Film Festival Friday 22nd May to Sunday 24th May

The 8th Galway African Film Festival (GAFF), a local event with a global flair, is back in the Houston Film School NUIG offering a unique opportunity for film lovers to view high quality films not usually available in Ireland. And all for FREE! Places are limited and strictly on a first come first served basis – so make sure you do not miss this extraordinary film experience.

Are you brave enough to take on The Chilli M.E. Challenge to raise funds and awareness for myalgic encephalomyelitis?

Take a bite of a hot chilli or shot of tabasco sauce, film your funny reaction and upload it to facebook for all your friends to laugh at. Then nominate five other friends and text HOT to 50300 for a €4 donation. All funds raised go to Invest in ME. For more information go to www.chillimechallenge.wordpress.com or to see challenges already done go to The Chilli M.E. Challenge Facebook page.

Aware Connemara Cycle Saturday 16th May

Registration is now open for the Connemara Cycle 4 Light in aid of Aware on Saturday 16th of May. There is a 65km route or a 125km route, both of which start and finish in Delphi and take in the spectacularly beautiful surrounds of Connemara, Co. Galway. More Information.

Galway Fleadh at NUI Galway seeks Musical Volunteers!

16th and 17th May Volunteers are welcome to support this event to make it an enjoyable experience for visitors to the campus. Love and appreciation of music is all you need!

Our office is located upstairs in the Áras na Mac Léinn building beside the College Bar and we are open Monday to Friday 10am-12.30pm & 2pm-4.30pm during the summer.

Thank You!

We would just like to thank everyone for a great year and remember that the current SU Officers are still working for you until the 30th of June. The newly elected officers will take up office on the 1st of July. We hope you all have a great summer.

If you are still not registered to vote there is still time! We have the forms up here in the SU Office for you to fill out, get stamped at the Garda Stationand return to your City or County Council. You have until Tuesday the 5th of May to get your form to your City/County Council. DO IT!

Draíocht Society will be holding a coffee afternoon fundraiser TODAY 2.30pm-6pm in The Space upstairs in Áras na Mac Léinn. Please come along and support. They will also have a collection day in Galway on Friday 15th May in aid of the victims of the Nepalese Earthquake. Please give what you can and if you have any time to spare to help them with the collection email them on draiocht@socs.nuigalway.ie

Bus Éireann Strike This Weekend

Reminder if you are planning on heading home this weekend there is a Bus Éireann strike planned for Friday and Saturday so you might need to make new travel plans. Some websites that might help you get home: www.carsharing.iewww.getthere.ie

SU Card Reminder

Remember to cash in any points on your SU Card and spend any balances before you leave for summer. You can access your SU Card account through the SU Website: http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/su-card

Although your card will still work in September, points cannot be carried forward to next year.

We now have €10 NUIG student tickets on sale for the last Connacht home match of the season against the Ospreys at 3pm Saturday 16th May.

Please note all lockers must be cleared out by Friday 15th May 2015

Please remember to drop your locker keys back to the Students’ Union Office by 5pm on Friday the 15th May 2015. Any items left in your locker after the 15th May 2015 will be disposed of.

Alive Certificates

You can now collect your Alive Volunteering Certificate from the SU Office Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.

Give Blood This May In Galway

Blood Donation clinics will be held 5pm-8.30pm on Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th of May in the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit.

Tidy Towns Clean Up On Monday – Volunteers Needed

Galway City Tidy Towns clean up takes place this Monday, 4th May, at 11am, meeting at the bridge beside Millennium Children’s Playground near Galway Cathedral. Volunteers are needed to help remove paint and graffiti.

Pint of Science FREE Tickets!

Pint of Science is taking place on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th of May in the Oslo in Salthill. There is a great line up of speakers from NUI Galway tackling the themes of Our Body and Technology & Planet Earth over the two evenings. You can register now for your free tickets for the event here.

German Photography Competition

Germany through my Lens is a photography competition organised by the Discipline of German at NUI Galway and the German Department at GMIT. We are asking students, registered for 2014-15 at NUI Galway or GMIT, to submit any photo they have taken themselves of any aspect of Germany that impressed them. Deadline for submissions is 15th September 2015.

The next Postgradaoke night will be from 8pm tomorrow Friday the 1st of May. Swing along to the College Bar for karaoke, craic and all that stuff.

Undergraduate Awards Deadline 29th May

To be in with a chance to win a Gold Medal, have your work published in an academic journal, attend the exclusive UA Global Summit for free, and be recognised as the best in your field, all you have to do is submit your coursework for free online. It couldn’t be easier! If you place in the top 10% in your category, you receive a Highly Commended certificate which looks great on any CV and is internationally recognised – as well as the opportunity to attend the UA Global Summit and take part in our global alumni network. Any questions, check out the website – www.undergraduateawards.com – or email info@undergraduateawards.com

It’s free to enter, it’s completely anonymous, and you’ve already done the work – you have nothing to lose!

Join the NUI Galway Clubs and Societies in opposing the proposed N6 Galway City Transport Project.